Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reported earlier today, that former Celtic stopper and gargantuan figure, Fraser Forster has completed his move from Southampton to Tottenham Hotspur. The goalkeeper will now join up with Antonio Conte’s side for pre-season training this summer.
Forster has moved to Spurs on freedom of contract, after his excruciatingly expensive deal with the St Mary’s side concluded this month, leaving him a free agent. The big frame of Forster will now be behind Hugo LIoris as back-up if and when required. This move came about after it was reported that coach Conte was looking to add more homegrown players to his squad so as to be able to register more signings from abroad.
07.11.2012 Glasgow, Scotland. Lionel Messi and Fraser Forster in action during the Champions League game between Celtic and Barcelona from Celtic Park.
His new move will see him remain in London until 2024, with Tottenham chairman – and notoriously difficult negotiator – Daniel Levy thrashing out a deal with the 34-year-old Englishman. Now it will be a case of being an understudy to World Cup winner LIoris for most of the time.
With Perluigi Gollina still at the club, game time could be a rarity for Forster in the coming years. At 34, perhaps he is just content to sit at a club in the Champions League as a squad player rather than compete directly for the number one jersey for less money.
8th December 2019; Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland; Scottish League Cup Final Football, Celtic versus Rangers; Fraser Forster of Celtic dives to save the penalty of Alfredo Morelos of Rangers
Forster begun life at Celtic under Neil Lennon’s first tenure as boss, helping the club to a Scottish Cup triumph in his first season, although he did receive some early criticism for his collecting of crosses into the area during that first early period between the sticks for the Hoops. However, he turned the tide and was so marvellous he helped Celtic defeat the mighty Barcelona in the Champions League at Celtic Park in 2012.
The Spanish press would then go onto dub him “La Gran Muralla” – which means The Great Wall. Forster went from strength-to-strength in a Celtic top but could still not fulfil his desire to be a regular for England at the time, with current incumbent Joe Hart holding permanent residence at that time.
Invariably he would leave Celtic, with Southampton bidding £10 million for his services in 2014, which took him to the Premier League and saw him gain more caps for his country. Forster would also line up with former Celtic hero’s Victor Wanyama and now Liverpool superstar, Virgil Van Dijk along the way. For a while it felt like Celtic had turned into the South coast outfits feeder club.
June 10th 2017, Hampden park, Glasgow, Scotland; World Cup 2018 Qualifying football, Scotland versus England; Joe Hart and Fraser Forster chat as they leave the field at full time. Photo Vagelis Georgariou
Alas, his displays would persuade Southampton to give him a rather exorbitant contract renewal, which came back to bite when Ralph Hassentuttl deemed him surplus to requirements when he arrived at the Saints. This would lead to a dramatic return to Celtic in the summer of 2019. Forster would go on to help Celtic FC clinch their ninth League Championship in a row, having a remarkable time in the goal during that season. Unfortunately for Neil Lennon and Peter Lawwell, a deal could not be agreed to bring the stopper back home either on-loan or permanently. And the rest as they say, is history.
We wish Fraser all the best on his new adventure.
Paul Gillespie
Watch this…
